Central Group plans HomeWorks site

Bangkok Post: PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP
Central Retail Corporation (CRC) plans to open its first neighbourhood store in Pattaya by the middle of this year to generate income from the new property and tourism boom.

Pong Skuntanaga, vice-president of CRC Power Retail Co, examines a display of range hoods at one of the company's Home Works outlets. The one-billion-baht project, next to Big C in South Pattaya, is being constructed in a low-rise format and will comprise various CRC business units, including the main anchor, HomeWorks, the hardware and home improvement store.

Central Pattana Plc, the listed property development arm of the Central Group, also announced recently that it would build a four-billion baht Central Plaza Pattaya Beach, another retail project in Pattaya by the middle of this year.

Another listed property development firm, Siam Future Development Plc is also planning to develop another project in Pattaya.

A market analyst for the retail industry said there had been more improvement in consumer purchasing power in Pattaya, indicated by the opening of new high-end housing projects and hotels.

Suvarnabhumi airport opening this year will also stimulate the eastern economy.

"Although Pattaya is a small city, there are all kinds of discount store brands opening their outlets there. And, some discount store chains have opened up to two outlets in the location, insisting in the market potential," said Pong Skuntanaga, vice-president of CRC Power Retail Co, the hardware and home improvement unit of CRC.

Because of that, CRC Power Retail plans to spend over 500 million baht building a stand-alone HomeWorks in the CRC's new store in Pattaya with 10,000 square metres of retail space and about 200 staff.

"The home decoration market in Pattaya is booming at present because of the tourism business. Moreover, there is a lot of industrial support in Rayong, Si Racha and Sattahip, Chon Buri. The per capita income of people in Pattaya is on par with those in Phuket," said Mr Pong....

more on Bangkok Post article

Oh goody more shopping

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